Electric plug with make and break device



May 3, 1932. B. F. MULDOON 1,856,260

ELECTRIC PLUG WITH MAKE AND BREAK DEVICE Filed March 22 1927 Patented May 3, 1932 BERNARD F. MULDOON, OF MOUNTAINVIEWV, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOB TO HENRY HYMAN, OF BRGOKLYN, NEW YORK ELECTRIC PLUG WITH MAKE AND BREAK DEVICE Application filed March 22, 1927.

lids invention relates to a plug for an electric light socket, in which plug a make and break device is located for the purpose of automatically turning on and off the light or ligl'its to which the plug is connected. One end of the plug is provided with screw threads to adapt it to be screwed into an ordinary electric light socket, and the other end is screw threaded to adapt it as a socket into which the usual screw plug attached to an el-ctric lamp cord may be screwed. The plug is provided with an opening to permit access to the interior for inspection or adjustment, and the make and break elements are readily removable from the plug, so that they may be repaired or replaced when necessary.

The invention will be understood from the description in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which Fig. 1 is a vertical section through the device; Fig. 2 is a section along the line 2-2 of Fig. 1, and Fig. 8 is a section along the line S-3 of Fig. 1. In

the drawings, reference character 5 indicates a metal shell or cylinder that has an opening 6 on one side thereof to permitinspection and access to the inside of the shell from the side thereof. The shell is provided with screw threaded ends 7 and 8, respectively, the end 7 being adapted to be screwed into an electric light socket, and the end 8 being adapted to have a screw plug of the well known sort screwed into the same.

The make and break elements are supported by a holder that comprises two discs 10 and 11 of insulating material, that are separated from each other and connected by means of stiff or rigid strips 12 and 13 that are preferably made of metal. The strips 12 and 18 are provided at each end thereof with extensions or tongues 14 that lie in notches 15 at the edges of the discs 10 and 11. When only two strips 12 and 13 are employed, the notches in the discs 10 and 11 will preferably be spaced 180 apart. The notches are substantially of the same depth as the thickness of the tongues 14;. The tongues 14 are bent at right angles to lie along the outside surfaces of the discs 10 and 11 and the ends of the strips 12 and 13 on Serial No. 177,243.

both sides of the tongues 14 restagainst the inner surfaces of the discs 10 and 11, so that the discs and strips form rigid structures for holding the make and break elements in position.

A center spring contact 16 is connected to the outside of the disc 11 by means of the rivet 17, and this rivet also retains in place asupport 18 for one of the contact elements 19 of the make and break device. This contact element 19 is made in the form of a screw, which passes through a threaded hole in the support 18, so that the same can be adjusted longitudinally by merely turning the screw 19. The thermostatic element 20 of the make and break device of the well known sort that is made of two or more metals of different co efficients of expansion, is surrounded by a coil 21 of resistant wire, and flexible wire 22 connects the support 18 to the coil 21 of resistant wire. A layer of asbestos 20 surrounds the element 20 and insulates the wire 21 therefrom. The end of the coil of wire 21 opposite the flexible connection 22, is electrically connected to the thermostatic element 20 and the corresponding end of this element 20 is bent, after it passes through the disc 1.0, as shown at 23, to lie along the outside of the disc 10. A screw 24 passes through a hole at the center of the disc 10 and also through a screw threaded hole in. the bent portion 23, and is provided with a nut 25 by means of which a button or disc 26 of in sulating material is kept in place.

Tongues 28 may be struck in from the shell 5 and contact with or be bent around the edge of one of the strips 12 or 13 to prevent the holder from being rotated in the shell, so as to keep the screw 19 always opposite the opening 6, The shell 5, with the exception of its threaded ends, may be surrounded with a cylinder 01' sleeve of insulating material, which may also be provided with an opening corresponding to the opening 6 in the shell 5.

I claim:

1. In an electric light plug containing a make and break device, a shell having screw threads at the ends thereof, discs of insulating material spaced apart and enclosed in said shell near opposite ends thereof, one of the members of said make and break device being supported by one of said discs and the other by the other one of said discs.

2. In an electric light plug containing a make and break device, a shell having screw threads at the ends thereof, discs of insulating material spaced apart and enclosed in said shell near opposite ends thereof, said discs having substantially the same diameters as the inside diameters of said shell, and said make and break device being supported by both of said discs.

3. In an electric light plug containing a make and break device, a shell having screw threads at the ends thereof, discs of insulating material spaced apart by means of connecting members and enclosed in said shell, said make and break device being supported by said discs.

4. In an electric light plug containing a make and break device, a shell having screw threads at the ends thereof, discs of insulating material spaced apart and enclosed in said shell, one of the members of said make and break device being supported by one of said discs and the other by the other one of said discs, and means to prevent said discs from revolving in said shell. 7

5. In an electric light plug containing a make and break device, a shell having screw threads at the ends thereof, discs of insulating material spaced apart by means of connecting members and enclosed in said shell, said make and break device being supported by both of said discs, and tongues struck in from said shell contacting with one of said members.

6. In an electric light plug, a metal shell, and a make and break holder in said shell comprising disc-shaped end members of insulating material connected by strips of metal and means for retaining said holder in said shell.

7 In an electric light plug, a metal shell, and a make and break holder in said shell comprising disc-shaped end members of insulating material connected by strips of metal at the edges of said discs, and means for retaining said holder in said shell.

8. In an electric light plug a metal shell, and a make and break holder in said shell comprising disc-shaped end members of insulating material connected by strips of metal and means for retaining said holder in said shell to prevent both longitudinal and rotary movement therein.

9. I11 an electric light plug, a metal shell, and a make and break holder in said shell comprising end members connected by strips and means for retaining said holder in said shell to prevent both longitudinal and rotary movement therein, said last named means comprising struck in portions of said shell.

10. In an electric light plug, a metal shell, and a make and break holder in said shell comprising end members connected by strips and means for retaining said holder in said shell to prevent both longitudinal and rotary movement therein, said last named means comprising a button of insulating ma terial at one end of said shell.

11. In an electric light plug, a metal shell, and a make and break holder in said shell comprising end members connected by strips and means for retaining said holder in said shell to prevent both longitudinal and rotary movement therein, said last named means comprising struck in portions of said shell and insulating material at one end of said shell.

12. In an electric light plug, a metal. shell, and a make and break holder in said shell comprising disc-shaped end members of insulating material connected by strips of metal and means for retaining said holder in said shell, one end of said shell being a screw plug and the other end a screw socket.

13. In an electric light plug, a metal shell,

disc-shaped insulating members betweeir which one end of said shell is clamped, and a make and break device having one member supported by said insulating members.

1%. In an electric light plug, a metal shell, insulating members between which one end of said shell is clamped, a make and break device, and a third insulating member supported by said first named insulating members and supporting a member of said make and break device.

15. In an electric light plug, a metal shell, insulating members between which one end of said shell is clamped, a make and break device, a third insulating member supported by said first named insulating members and supporting a member of said make and break device, and center contacts for said insulating members.

BERNARD F. MULDOON. 

